[The Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science](https://brancoweissfellowship.org)

January 15, 2026 (full application deadline & registration portal closes)

Up to CHF 600,000 total over 5 years; supports salary, research costs, and justified project expenses.

Supports exceptional postdocs globally to pursue independent, innovative research projects that engage across disciplines and with society.

--- ## Description The Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science is an international program designed to support outstanding postdoctoral researchers who wish to pursue unconventional, high-impact scientific projects beyond the mainstream. Fellows are empowered to realize their personal research vision at leading institutions worldwide, with full autonomy to choose their research environment. The fellowship emphasizes not only scientific excellence and originality but also engagement with broader societal issues and interdisciplinary communication. Fellows join a vibrant community, benefit from annual symposia, and receive mentorship and support to foster both their scientific and societal impact. --- ## Due Dates - January 15, 2026: Annual application submission deadline (full applications) - January 15, 2026: Registration portal for the 2026 fellowship intake closes (17:00 CET) --- ## Funding Amount - Maximum award: CHF 600,000 for up to five years. - Funding covers the fellow's salary (fully or partially), research expenses (equipment, consumables, travel, personnel), and justified project costs. - The host institution may retain a management fee up to 10% of the fellowship. - No-cost extensions are not permitted; unspent funds must be returned at the end of the fellowship. - Equipment purchases above CHF 50,000 are not allowed in the last two years of the fellowship. --- ## Eligibility - Open to researchers from all disciplines and nationalities; no age restrictions. - Applicants must hold a PhD or have passed their doctoral examination by the submission deadline, with the degree awarded no more than five years prior to the deadline. - Professors, lecturers (with or without tenure/tenure track), and scientists with permanent employment are ineligible. - Applicants must propose original research that diverges from mainstream approaches and demonstrate outstanding scientific achievement. - The fellowship project may be conducted at any academic host institution worldwide. - Applicants must provide an invitation letter from the main host institution/mentor and suggest five independent reviewers. --- ## Application Process - Applications must be submitted in English via the online portal by January 15, 2026 (17:00 CET). - Required documents: - Research project proposal (max. 5 pages) - CV with publication list (max. 4 pages) - Motivation letter (max. 1 page) - Three peer-reviewed publications (not doctoral theses or books) - Five reviewer suggestions (no prior collaboration with applicant) - Invitation letter from the main host institution/mentor - The selection process includes written application review, external peer review for shortlisted candidates, and a final interview (video conference) with the selection committee. - Only shortlisted candidates provide reference letters and degree certificates in the second evaluation step. - Funding decisions are communicated within 10 days after interviews. --- ## Additional Information - Fellows must start their project between October 1 and January 1 following approval. - Mobility is supported, but changing host institutions in the first year is not permitted. - Fellows are required to submit annual scientific and financial reports and participate in an annual symposium in Zurich. - The fellowship encourages acquisition of third-party funding during the award period. --- ## External Links - [Fellowship Program Homepage](https://brancoweissfellowship.org) - [Eligibility, Duration, and Funding](https://brancoweissfellowship.org/who-should-apply/eligibility-duration-and-funding/) - [Application Guidelines (PDF)](https://brancoweissfellowship.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Guidelines_BWF_250401.pdf) - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://brancoweissfellowship.org/who-should-apply/frequently-asked-questions/) - [Registration Portal](https://eresearch.ethz.ch/) --- ## Contact Information | Type | Details | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Email | brancoweissfellowship@ethz.ch | | Address | ETH Zurich, Rämistrasse 101, CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland | | Contact Form| [Contact Page](https://brancoweissfellowship.org/contact/) |

The Branco Weiss Fellowship – Society in Science

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